Canine Good Citizen Training Tips: Reaction to Distraction
/Remaining neutral in noisy and visually distracting environments is another portion of the Canine Good Citizen Test. While dogs may look and acknowledge distractions within their community, they should not overreact to them.
If you want your dog to be not only tolerated, but actually welcomed at a variety of locations, then training him to be graceful under pressure is a must. In our everyday lives, there are any number of sights and sounds that could throw a dog off. Start early with training your dog to ignore those distractions.
Task #9: Reaction to Distraction
The AKC description of this ninth test reads:
“This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the exercise.”
According to the CGC Evaluator Guide, the evaluator considers eight points during this test:
The dog may show casual interest and may appear slightly startled. The dog may jump slightly but should not panic and pull at the leash to get away.
The dog may attempt to walk forward slightly to investigate the distracter.
Dogs who become so frightened that they urinate (or defecate) should not pass.
Dogs who growl or lunge at the distracter should not pass.
An isolated (one) bark is acceptable. Dogs who continue to bark at the distracter should not pass.
Handlers may talk to dogs and give encouragement and praise throughout the test. Dogs may be given instructions by the handler (“Sit...good boy..watch me...”)
Several national therapy dog groups use the CGC as a part of their therapy dog evaluations. These groups specify which distracters should be used. Evaluators who conduct the test for therapy dog groups will have this information.
The distraction cannot simply be noise in the background (dogs barking, cars). Distraction stimuli should be consistent for each dog.
Also from the CGC Evaluator Guide are a few notes about the types of distractions evaluators should be choosing for the CGC Test. They specify “Since some dogs are sensitive to sound and others to visual distractions, it is preferable to choose one sound and one visual distraction.”
The Evaluator Guide also makes distinctions between distractions a trainer may use for a temperament test versus the CGC Test. While your trainer may use unusual distracters during a CGC Class, on the test, the Evaluator should be using common distractions within your community.
Here’s the list of potential distracters from the CGC Evaluator Guide:
A person using crutches, a wheelchair, or a walker (5 ft. away).
A sudden opening or closing of a door.
Dropping a pan, folded chair, etc. no closer than 5 ft. from the dog.
A jogger running in front of the dog.
A person pushing a cart or crate dolly passing no closer than 5 ft. away.
A person on a bike no closer than 10 ft. away
Watch the video below for a few quick demonstrations of how evaluators will present distractions to your dog for the CGC Test.
Disclaimer
Before you start reading the training tips, please remember I am not a professional dog trainer. I am a dog parent just like you who wants my dog living up to CGC expectations for being a well-mannered pup in public. I’ve pulled these tips from a variety of sources, including online videos, webinars, books, and dog obedience classes I’ve attended. I’ve used all of the tips I suggest, but not all of these ideas may be right for you or your dog.
If you’re serious about wanting your dog to be a good neighbor, you should absolutely 100% be working with a professional dog trainer. Read more about why working with a professional dog trainer is one of the best decisions you’ll make for you and your dog. Once you’ve found a professional dog trainer who understands you and your goals, then online resources can serve as helpful reminders and inspiration.
Finding visual & auditory distractions
Get in the habit of exploring new places with your dog. Visiting different parks, walking paths, beaches, dog-friendly stores, and the like will increase your chances of seeing and hearing a greater variety of distractions.
The more you and your dog experience different destinations, the more accustomed you’ll both become to common noises and unusual sights.
Start on a smaller scale with distractions
If your dog is more nervous or you think he may be more nervous around new sights and sounds, don’t overwhelm him by taking him to strange loud places with way too much going on.
Start testing his reaction to unusual sights and sounds at home and in your neighborhood in small ways to see how he reacts to just a few distractions.
Drop a baking tin on tile. If your dog reacts okay, then try again in your garage, or on your driveway or sidewalk outside your home.
Look around your house for anything made out of stainless steel that you could drop in a similar manner. Could be a dog dish, drawer organizers, or an old empty water bottle.
If you normally only walk around your neighborhood, notice how your dog reacts to changes in that environment.
Balloons or holiday decor tied to a mail box or post
Neighbors hosting a party with music playing
Construction noises from street improvements
Home improvement noises from neighbors
Snow blowers, shovels, rakes, hoses, or sprinklers
Brainstorm a list of places you could visit with your dog
Look over the list of potential distractions that a CGC Evaluator may use and consider where you could find some of those visual and auditory distractions.
People using crutches, wheelchairs, or walkers from 5 feet away:
Do you know anyone who uses a wheelchair or walker? Could you meet that person in a park or dog-friendly store?
Are there any places where seniors in your community congregate that you would be allowed to visit? A visit might just be walking through a parking lot for a few minutes on your way to another doggy field trip.
Do any stores offer discount days to seniors? If you’re practicing loose-leash walking outside your grocery store during senior hours, your chances of meeting someone using a wheelchair or a walker should go up.
Do you notice any senior citizens at the park with grand children?
Doors suddenly opening and closing:
Practicing outside grocery stores is great for this particular distraction. Most grocery stores have automatic doors, so be sure to walk by each entrance.
Home Depot and Lowe’s also have automatic doors. Even if those particular locations are not dog-friendly, you could still walk the sidewalk outside the store to let your dog experience the automatic door opening and closing.
Pet stores are a great place to practice around doors. You could combine a trip to your pet store to include practicing some neutral dog behavior for Reaction to Another Dog.
For some dogs, seeing their reflection is a challenge. Apple Store doors are always glass. You’re also allowed inside the Apple Store with your dog, so your dog could experience people coming and going through the glass door from both vantage points,
Dropping loud items or watching people pass with carts/dollies from 5 feet away or farther :
While you can more easily practice dropping items at home, you should get out into your community to let your dog see carts, dollies, and any other delivery systems in action.
Home Depot and Lowe’s usually have a variety of construction-type noises happening along with a variety of dollies and carts rolling around. Weekends tend to be busier, so keep that in mind when you’re thinking about how much stimulus your dog can handle in one trip.
Since not every location of Home Depot and Lowe’s allow dogs, consider your local Ace Hardware as well. If the store is quiet while you’re there, you could ask an employee to drop something behind the counter.
Practice calm behaviors outside a grocery store. Not only will individual shoppers go by with carts, employees will wrangle lines of those carts making an abundance of noise.
Eat out at restaurants with dog-friendly patios. Restaurants have a nice variety of noises, including those times when dishes drop.
When you hear trucks backing up, take notice. If there’s a delivery being made, not only will your dog be exposed to someone in uniform, there could be boxes or a dolly involved too.
People jogging in front of your dog, or bicyclists passing by:
Find those popular routes in your community that runners and cyclists use. If there are no shared paths, then stick to the sidewalk in parts of town with designated bike lanes.
If you see groups of cyclists congregating at a local coffee shop or restaurant, you could plan on walking by with your dog. The cyclists might even want to meet your pup.
Visit different parks at different times of day.
Put your plan into action
Once you’ve got a list of local stores or destinations you can visit with your dog, make sure you’re taking the time to actually go to those places.
While you’re visiting, take mental notes about what’s happening and how your dog is reacting.
If your dog has an unusual reaction to a particular stimulus, ask your dog trainer for specific advice to help your dog. If you notice some distractions that seem to interest your dog more, you could return to that location to let your dog keep getting used to that sight or sound.
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